“This is a major milestone towards sustainable seafood production in Ecuador. Markets are demanding responsibly farmed shrimp and this includes responsibly sourced marine ingredients in aquafeeds. GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices program helps to provide linkages along the supply chains to incentivise positive change and it’s impressive to see how Ecuador has stepped up to meet the challenge”.

Dan Lee of GAA

"The credibility of the Ecuador small pelagics FIP builds upon the commitment of a variety of stakeholders to improve the fishery. On the one hand the national industry (industrial producers and fishmeal processors), represented by the Camara Nacional de Pesquería, and their supply chain (the fish feed producers Vitapro, Alimentsa and Skretting), whose contributions made possible the development of the design phase of the project. On the other hand, the commitment of the government, who is providing support as part of the GEF funded Global Marine Commodities project, a global programme implemented by the governments of Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Indonesia with the technical support of the United Nations Development Programme and the SFP".

Blake Lee-Harwood of SFP

“The application of the Ecuador small pelagics FIP to the MarinTrust Improver Programme is an important step forward for the Ecuadorian Marine Ingredients Industry. Moving the FIP through the MarinTrust Improver Programme is an important step in becoming fully MarinTrust certified. Not only will this allowance into the IP open up possibilities with demanding supply chains, but more importantly, it will move the fishery gradually towards better management which will eventually benefit the longevity of the industry. We’re looking forward to seeing the FIP becoming fully certified in due time.”

Michiel Fransen from the ASC